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Jesus said to his disciples: “When the Son of Man comes in his
glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit upon his glorious
throne, and all the nations will be assembled before him. And he
will separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates the
sheep from the goats.” Matthew 25:31–32
Throughout history, rulers have vied for power, and countless wars
have been fought over ambitions for political control. Even in
modern democracies, there is constant strife over who should lead.
Yet, in the end, there will be only one King Who will sit upon His
glorious throne forever.
Today’s Gospel reminds us that although civil governance plays an
important role in our earthly lives, we must never lose sight of
the One Eternal King. When Jesus returns in all His glory,
accompanied by the entire Celestial Hierarchy of Heaven, all
justice and righteousness will be fully established. Each of us
will appear before Him as Judge. At that moment, and for eternity,
only one thing will matter: How did I live while on earth?
Too often, the temptation to live as though this life is an end in
itself dominates us. When faced with injustice, we may respond with
anger. When our preferred political party is not in power, we can
become disillusioned, considering it a tragedy. Many are seduced
into believing that accumulating more material goods leads to
greater happiness, and poverty or simplicity is undesirable, a sign
of failure. Yet, in the end, one thing alone will matter and one
thing alone will endure—charity.
In the passage above, Jesus uses the image of a shepherd separating
sheep from goats. This familiar image to the people of His time
depicts the end of the age. During the day, a shepherd often
allowed sheep and goats to graze together, just as God permits all
people—the righteous and the unrighteous—to live in this world
together. But at night, the shepherd would separate the sheep from
the goats. Sheep, being more docile, obedient, and faithful,
represent those who live according to God’s will. Goats, often more
unruly and independent, symbolize those who live selfishly.
The contrast is striking. Faith, hope, and charity are not abstract
ideas; they are supernatural virtues that win for us a place in the
eternal Kingdom of God. Self-centered living, worldly ambitions,
and unruly passions extinguish these virtues, leading to God’s
judgment and condemnation at the end of time.
Knowing these truths should instill vigilance and hope in us.
Vigilance will help us remain faithful members of God’s true
Kingdom, living out charity toward God and others. Hope will
inspire us to live with an eternal perspective. Worldly ambitions
will pass with this life. But if our hope is set on the eternal
Kingdom, it will lead us to holiness and a deeper union with
God.
Reflect today on the eternal promises our Lord makes to us. At the
end of time, He will separate the sheep from the goats. We must
never forget that while God is perfectly merciful, He is also
perfectly just. If His mercy is not embraced through repentance and
conversion, His justice must be satisfied in the end. But if His
mercy is embraced, it perfectly fulfills justice, and we will live
with Him as our King and Shepherd forever.
My merciful and just King, at the end of time, You will return
with all Your angels to judge the living and the dead, establishing
Your eternal Kingdom. I pray that I will be counted among Your
sheep. Please grant me the grace of humility and repentance so that
I may grow in love for You and in charity toward all. Jesus, I
trust in You.
Image: Sharon Mollerus, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia
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